Newly refurbished properties are set to provide new homes to local people across Leeds.

Almost 50 empty homes have been refurbished and will be re-let to local people in Leeds as part of an initiative to re-use empty properties across the city.

Leeds City Council has been working with the three ALMOs, which manage the housing stock for the council, to make sure empty houses are brought back into use.

In just three years, 46 council owned houses that were previously leased out to other housing associations have been refurbished to the decent homes standards and are now being rented out to people from the Leeds Homes Register.

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Councillor Peter Gruen, Leeds City Council executive member with responsibility for neighbourhoods, housing and regeneration, said:"This has been a very effective scheme, and has really helped us reduce the amount of overcrowding in some areas.

"We have been working hard so that families can move into houses that better meet their needs than any where else in the city. This is another great example of how a council service is working towards the benefits of local people in the city."

He added: "The average cost of refurbishment has been around £15,000 per house, which has been met from the council’s major repairs allowance, and I am pleased that this work is continuing.

"Further council owned empty houses are being assessed for refurbishment in the coming year."

(CD/KMcA)